Epangeline wins fastest of eight NYSS filly trotting divisions

Epangeline emphatically staked her claim as the leader of the New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old filly trotting division on Sunday when taking her $32,278 Sire Stakes split at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in 1:57.3. The final clocking was the fastest of eight NYSS events contested on the day.

Driven from post four by conditioner Ray Schnittker, Epangeline ($2.80) was content to trot in fourth place through an opening quarter mile in :29.2 before sweeping effortlessly to the front and immediately opening up on the field through middle fractions of :59 and 1:27.4.

Facing no opposition form her overmatched rivals, Epangeline entered the stretch with an overwhelming 10-length lead, and the final result was never in peril, as the daughter of Conway Hall trotted confidently under the wire to score by 10 ¼ lengths.

With her Sunday victory, Epangeline has prevailed in two of three starts this year, including a 1:55.1 triumph in the $237,675 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs on May 26. The Peter Pan Stables Inc. homebred owns a lifetime record of four wins from 14 starts, with a career bankroll in excess of $264,000.

Stephane Bouchard invaded the Saratoga Springs oval on Sunday to score a pair of Sire Stakes triumphs, beginning with Perugia ($11.60), who led every step of the way en route to a 2:00.2 victory for Berry Stables and conditioner Paul Bernardo.

Later in the afternoon, Bouchard provided the winning drive behind Donald LaPage’s Seaway Sami Sue ($37.60), who claimed the lead in the shadow of the wire to score by a nose over It’s Coast Time in 1:58.4 for trainer Jeff Deslandes.

Jim Morrill Jr. piloted two front-end winners on the Sire Stakes program, finding the wire first with Lola Seelster ($3.30) for trainer Kelly Bouchard and the ownership of Panhellenic Stable Corporation, Robert Feldman, and Brooke Vermett, before returning to the winner’s circle two races later with Sweeter by the Bone ($4.50) for owner/trainer Richard Johnson.

Driver Jeff Gregory also tallied a pair of Sire Stakes wins on the Sunday program, capturing the opening event of the matinee program with Southwind Martini ($2.80), who trotted the mile in 1:59.1 for Southwind Farm and trainer Jonas Czernyson. 

Gregory would return three races later to guide Raymond Campbell’s RC Biscuit ($46.20) to an upset victory over the heavily-favored Creamy Mimi in 1:58.2 for conditioner George Ducharme.

The rapidly-developing Sassy Again ($6.10) tallied her third straight victory when taking the final Sire Stakes event of the afternoon in 1:59.2 for driver Brian Mattison, trainer Paul Kelley, and owner William Weaver III.

Both Conway Hall and Credit Winner sired three winners on the Sire Stakes program, with progeny of Malabar Man and Dilbert Hanover prevailing once.

While the octet of Sire Stakes events were undoubtedly the highlight of the Sunday card, Tuffofthetoughest may have put forth the most dazzling performance of the afternoon when scoring for the second straight time in the $15,000 Open Pace. 

Driven by Schnittker, the son of Bettor’s Delight cut the mile in :26.1, :55.1, and 1:24, before coming home in :28.4 to stop the timer in 1:52.4, which is the second fastest mile paced at Saratoga this year. (Saratoga)

« Back